FG
Emer Higgins
this contribution
This question asks for an update on the engagement the Minister has had with childcare providers in Dublin regarding core funding and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Dail Éireann · 2022-10-13
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100. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the engagement he has had with childcare providers in Dublin regarding core funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49692/22]
This question asks for an update on the engagement the Minister has had with childcare providers in Dublin regarding core funding and if he will make a statement on the matter. On 15 September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare.
This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good and for quality and affordability for children, parents and families. Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education, ECCE, programme, including the access and inclusion model, AIM, the national childcare scheme and the new core funding scheme.
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This question asks for an update on the engagement the Minister has had with childcare providers in Dublin regarding core funding and if he will make a statement on the matter.
On 15 September, I launched Together for Better, the new funding model for early learning and childcare. This new funding model supports the delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good and for quality and affordability for children, parents and families.
Together for Better brings together three major programmes, the Early Childhood Care and Education, ECCE, programme, including the access and inclusion model, AIM, the national childcare scheme and the new core funding scheme.
I am delighted that to date, 91% or over 4,000 providers have signed up to Together for Better. Of these, 972 are based in Dublin. This is a tremendous level of uptake and will make a positive impact for parents and children using these services through investment in quality and in affordability with more funding for staff and a commitment not to increase fees.
Stakeholder engagement has been a key part of the development of the new funding model from the beginning. The expert group tasked with reviewing the existing model and developing the new model undertook a widespread programme of stakeholder consultation and engagement. Over two years they heard from parents, providers, the workforce, the public and other stakeholders, all of which is documented and published.
Since core funding was announced last year as part of budget 2022, my Department has hosted eight meetings of the early learning and childcare stakeholder forum, and several core funding specific meetings with the forum, provider representatives and the joint labour committee. In particular, during August and September, there were frequent meetings with provider representative groups in preparation for the commencement of core funding.
Representations received from individual providers on core funding have been shared with the relevant officials. I have also met with and visited a number of early learning and childcare services in Dublin, and beyond.
While a large majority of providers have embraced core funding, some have raised concerns about the impact of the changes. The rationale for the change in approach is to allow for a fairer distribution of supports for graduate staff and I have been unequivocal that no service will lose out on funding this year compared to last year. Of course, there is also the safety net of the sustainability supports that are available for the small number of services which may experience financial difficulties.