Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
198. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has completed the core funding contract with the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23521/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key conditions of the Core Funding contract were outlined in the report of the Expert Group, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. This was launched on 7th December 2021 and states that providers who sign up to Core Funding should be required to:
- Follow the fee management system - in 2022/23 this will be a requirement not to increase fees above September 2021 levels;
- Implement the quality improvement measures under the Nurturing Skills, the workforce plan for ELC and SAC;
- Implement the relevant practice frameworks;
- Develop, implement, and report on an annual quality development plan;
- Provide transparent financial reports and participate as required in cost surveys and other necessary data-collection exercises; and
- Offer the NCS and ECCE programme to all eligible children/parents, including children accessing the NCS through sponsorship arrangements.
The full detail of the contract will be available in June for review by potential applicants. The contract will be available for signing in August.
The application process will consist of three stages, as follows:
- Stage 1 of the application process opened in April with the Sector Profile and Income & Costs Survey, which is a pre-requisite for application for Core Funding. Collection of data for the Annual Early Years Sector Profile closed in May. In cases where a service could not complete the survey during this period, they will continue to have the opportunity to enter Core Funding by completing the survey in advance of the application form for Core Funding.
- Stage 2 of the application process opens in June, when providers will be required to define their service’s profile and their capacity in detail in an online application form. The service-specific Core Funding values will be communicated to providers (subject to final verifications and confirmations). The Core Funding contract will also be published in June to allow applicants to review what they will later be asked to sign.
- Stage 3 of the application process opens in August and will entail individual contracts being made available to applicants for signature. The full contractual obligations of Core Funding will come into effect from the point of the provider signing the contract.
The new funding model being implemented aims to transform the sector to one that is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers, to the benefit of children, parents, practitioners, and society overall.
This transformation starts with Core Funding and the new approach will entail a shift in the relationship between the State and providers in relation to delivering ELC and SAC, with new responsibilities on both sides. Core Funding is open to all registered providers subject to their agreement to the terms and conditions of the funding stipulated in the contract. It is my ambition that the maximum number providers choose to participate in this partnership to deliver ELC and SAC for the public good and come into contract for Core Funding. Core Funding however is optional for providers.
I look forward to working together in partnership with providers to deliver ELC and SAC services for the public good.
