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Extra childcare supports are now available for up to 70,000 children and their families.

The start of supports today marks the first big step towards delivering accessible affordable quality childcare, according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.

Speaking at the Tallaght Childcare Centre, Minister Zappone also confirmed that the number of providers signing up to deliver the extra supports continues to rise. 2,805 providers are now on board representing 76% of eligible services (3,705).

Minister Zappone added:

“I want to send best wishes, support and congratulations to children starting childcare services across the country in the coming days.

It is a big moment for children, parents and providers. I wish them all well.

Today we also take the first big step towards accessible affordable quality childcare with extra supports for up to 70,000 children. There are two supports:
· a universal support for all children aged between 6 and 36-months worth up to €1,040 per year
· targeted supports for those families who need it most. These targeted supports can reach €7,500 per child per year – representing a 50% increase on previous supports.

I want to acknowledge the great work undertaken by my officials, Pobal and providers over many months to bring us to this moment.

The sector has responded positively with three quarters of eligible providers already signed up to deliver supports – a figure which continues to increase as services return from the summer break.

The names of signed up services will now be placed online at www.affordablechildcare.ie and will be updated on a regular basis. This will assist parents in accessing the supports put in place by government to lower the cost of childcare for families in Ireland.

In recognition of the extra administrative work services have undertaken I will be making an extra payment of €3.5m available before the end of the year – bringing the total for such payments in 2017 to an unprecedented €18m.

I note early indications that the vast majority of services are not increasing fees and welcome this. This is something my Department will continue to monitor in the coming weeks and months.
While there is no evidence of subsidies being abused – if action is required I will act.

In addition in the coming weeks an Independent Review of the Cost of Childcare will commence. It also has a tight timeline and will report back in ten-months, in time to inform decisions around Budget 2019.

As Minister I have always been clear. Our childcare goals are ambitious. They have to be if we are to correct decades of under-investment. Much more investment is needed in order to secure our goals. In the coming weeks I will be working with parents, providers and Government colleagues to ensure investment continues in Budget 2018 and beyond.”

On September 14th 2017 Offaly CCC will host an ‘Open Day’ for services and Parent and Toddler Groups. Service Providers, Early Years Workers, Students and Parents are cordially invited to attend the open day form 11.00m to 1.30pm and 3.00pm to 7.30pm. The ‘Open Day’ will be an informal opportunity to talk to staff and to visit the Tracey Buckley Resource Library and borrow resources. Story Sacks and Topic Boxes will be available to view on the day. Refreshments will be served throughout the day and your own children are very welcome to attend. Please contact the office on 057 9135878 if you will be attending.

Minimum ECCE Enrolment Exemptions
DCYA Procedures

In certain circumstances, a service may receive an exemption from the minimum number of ECCE children required per session. As per the ECCE Grant Funding Agreement

Service providers must apply to your local CCC for one of the exemptions listed above. Your application will be processed by the DCYA.

Click on the link below to read the procedure in full.

Minimum ECCE Enrolment Exemptions DCYA Procedures

Extra Childcare supports spark surge of interest from Parents and Providers
Parents can start registering with crèches, preschools and providers from Monday
Statement by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone

SATURDAY 19th AUGUST 2017

Extra childcare supports starting in two weeks have sparked a surge of interest from parents, crèches and childcare providers, according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.

The Minister is welcoming new figures which show:
· Country’s 4,500 childcare providers currently signing up to various childcare schemes in preparation for September. 3,423 services have completed their ECCE (free pre-school) contracts.
· 2,290 services (67%) have also signed up to deliver childcare subsidies to families.
· Massive interest in supports starting September. Website www.affordablechildcare.ie has been viewed nearly 350k times.

Minister Zappone added: “Changing one of the most expensive childcare systems in the world into the best is an ambitious goal but one I am determined to work towards for the sake of families.

These initial figures are hugely encouraging. It is expected that interest from both parents and providers will increase further when childcare centres start registering parents from Monday (21st August).

2,290 providers have already agreed to offer the extra supports and many others are continuing their annual contract negotiations with my officials.

It is clear that after years of under-investment by successive Governments that a turning point has been reached. Overall funding of early years services has increased over 80% since 2015 to €466m this year – passing the half billion mark must be our next milestone!

Our work towards accessible affordable quality childcare must go on.”

Minister Zappone announces €1.2m capital grants for 263 providers of School Age Childcare
Grants of up to €5000 to improve existing services
Response to consultation with children on afterschool

Thursday 17th August, 2017

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone, has announced funding of €1.2m (strand c) of the School Age Childcare Capital Scheme to improve existing school age childcare services. This follows the recent announcement of funding of €2.7m under Strands A and B for new and existing services to increase the number of childcare places that they provide.

“I am determined to support childcare providers in their mission to deliver quality childcare to all our children. I am also determined to listen to children in terms of what they want. This funding of €1.2m is specifically targeted at improving the quality of existing school age childcare services, which was one of the key actions of the Action Plan on School Age Childcare, published in March of this year. This will be done through the provision of age appropriate play equipment to stimulate children mentally and physically. With 263 individual projects set to be funded, our children right across the country will reap the benefits. This demonstrates my commitment to provide quality and affordable childcare for school age children.”

Minister Zappone said:-“We know from consultations with children that many of them would prefer to go home when their school day is finished rather than to various forms of childcare. This funding should help to ensure that when going home is not possible, children attend school age childcare services that simulate many of the characteristics of a healthy home environment, including the comforts and activities children enjoy there. Listening to the voice of the child is important and this funding is our response to the issues they raised”.

Click to view the list of successful participants in STRAND C