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Disadvantaged Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022

Thursday, 24 March 2022

Ceisteanna (67)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

67. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has examined the replication of the DEIS programme for early language and care and school age service services considering many services operate in deprived areas and feed into DEIS primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15485/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Partnership for the Public Good, A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) - the report of an independently chaired Expert Group - was adopted in full by Government last December. This sets out a new approach to State funding of the ELC and SAC sector that includes:

- A new additional funding stream for the sector, Core Funding, to support quality of provision, improved pay and conditions for staff, management of parental fees and sustainability of services

- Universal and targeted Tackling Disadvantage funding and support, building on Core Funding.

- Continued provision of the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) with enhancements

- An expanded role for the State in managing and supporting supply, quality, accessibility, and affordability

A number of research inputs contributed to this work including a paper on “Approaches to Identifying Children or Settings in Need of Additional Support” and another on “Funding Models Addressing Early Childhood Disadvantage”. There was also extensive and detailed stakeholder consultation on the issue of addressing disadvantage. The Expert Group was also briefed on the DEIS model.

Of 25 recommendations in Partnership for the Public Good, 9 relate to issues of disadvantage.

In Budget 2022, I secured an additional allocation of €78m for ELC and SAC to commence implementation of these recommendations. Among new measures in 2022 are:

- The introduction of Core Funding from September 2022 – a new scheme worth €221 million in a full year.

- An extension to the NCS universal subsidy to all children under 15 from September 2022, benefitting up to 40,000 children.

- A discontinuation in the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours from spring 2022, benefitting an estimated 5,000 children from low income families.

As recommendation by the Expert Group, once core funding is embedded and changes existing programmes take effect (ECCE and NCS), my Department will progress the development of the Tackling Disadvantage funding and support. Informed by recommendations in Partnership for the Public Good, through this, services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage. Whilst this will not be a replication of DEIS, it will be informed by that approach.

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