Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
557. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider a change in the rules of the national childcare scheme so that parents can receive a subsidy based on the hours they are paying for rather than the hours that their children are physically present in the childcare setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24804/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare Scheme is Ireland’s pathway to quality, accessible, affordable ELC and SAC. The Scheme provides a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme, and includes ‘wraparound’ care for pre-school and school-age children. The scheme seeks to address poverty traps that have been identified on a cross government basis.
It is a key aspect of the Scheme that all claims are paid in arrears based on the actual attendance of a child. This is a key financial and governance control to ensure that we are maximising the benefits of public monies and that the investment is following the child.
It should also be noted that the scheme rules, particularly the attendance rules, are designed to be flexible and responsive to family life. The rules recognise the business requirements of our dedicated childcare service providers, as well as the need to protect State finances and represent value for money for taxpayers.
The actual application of fees to usage is a matter entirely at the discretion of the provider and they may choose to charge for unused time.
The Deputy may wish to note the introduction of Core Funding from September 2022 following recommendations contained in an Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC).
Core Funding is the new funding stream to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Its primary purpose is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and to improve affordability for parents, as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding will operate alongside the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme and constitute additional income for providers on top of funding for these schemes, as well as income from parental fees.
One of the key conditions of Core Funding will be the requirement for providers to maintain fees at or below September 2021 levels. This will ensure that parents feel the full affordability effects of the National Childcare Scheme and the ECCE programme. Core Funding will also include conditions in relation to quality improvements in services and transparency in relation to operations.
