Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1202. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on childcare for parents of young children who are seeking work but cannot afford to pay for childcare while in receipt of the jobseeker’s benefit or allowance. [41994/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAffordable, accessible, high-quality and sustainable early learning and childcare is a key priority for Government. In December 2021, Government adopted the 25 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). This new funding model will support delivery of ELC and SAC for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. To achieve this, there is a need for greater State investment and greater public management of provision.
The new funding model outlined in Partnership for the Public Good will see the introduction of a major new funding stream, Core Funding which will operate, from later this month, alongside the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the National Childcare Scheme.
These multiple funding streams, and their associated conditions, will form an interlocking and integrated system of funding which is designed to ensure progress on each of the main goals of ELC and SAC policy, and move in the direction of enhanced public management.
Core Funding, which begins in September, is the new funding stream worth €221 million in full year costs to start this partnership for the public good between the State and providers. Core Funding allows for an estimated 19% increase in the total cost base for the sector without additional costs being passed on to parents. This will enable a fee freeze in year one. Core Funding also requires Partner Services to offer the NCS and/or ECCE to all eligible parents to ensure that parents can avail of their full entitlement to subsidised provision.
The introduction of fee control measures is one of the recommendations of the Expert Group. The fee freeze for the first year is the first step in this process but this will be further developed in future years as further information about income and costs in the sector is analysed.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help parents meet the cost of childcare and to support better outcomes for children.
There are two types of subsidies available under the NCS:
- The Universal Subsidy is available to all families with children under 15 years old. This subsidy is not means tested and provides 50c per hour towards the cost of a registered place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
- Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and varies depending on family income, the child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in the family.
The NCS has been designed to be flexible, with income thresholds, maximum hours and subsidy rates which can be adjusted in line with Government decisions and as more investment becomes available.
More information on the NCS can be found at ncs.gov.ie or by contacting the Parent Support Centre at 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.
