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For Oral Answer on : 24/10/2024
Question Number(s): 47 Question Reference(s): 43518/24
Department: Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Children; Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 15 October 2024, the number of childcare centres it is estimated that are to be impacted by this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
Core Funding is allocated a budget of €331 million for its third year of operation which began in September 2024. This represents an increase of 15% on the allocation for year two.
The additional funding will facilitate increases in the base rate for all age groups, the strengthening of targeted measures which were introduced in year 2 to support sessional and smaller services, and growth in capacity of almost 6%.
A maximum Base Rate allocation was introduced in September 2023 for the second year of Core Funding. Individual Partner Services will not receive funding for their staffed capacity through the Base Rate beyond this maximum value.
The maximum Base Rate allocation aims to maximise the efficiency of this significant State investment in the sector, to best spread a limited budget across the entire sector rather than increasing funded capacity for the largest services.
When introduced in year two of the scheme, this maximum allocation was set at €600,000 and for year three of the scheme from September 2024 it has been reduced to the current value of €500,000.
This maximum does not include the allocation of Graduate Premiums in respect of staff with additional qualifications, which may increase the total allocation to a Partner Service beyond this maximum allocation.
As of Monday 14 October, five services have reached the maximum base rate of €500,000.
