Press release Minister O’Gorman launches major reform of funding for early learning and childcare following Report of Expert Group

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Published on 7 December 2021

Minister Roderic O’Gorman has today (07 December) announced major reforms to the funding model for early learning and childcare services. The changes will see services increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers.

The reforms are on foot of an Expert Group report, which was approved by Government and published earlier today.

The Expert Group, established in 2019, was compromised of national and international experts, and was independently chaired by Michael Scanlan. Its report, Partnership for the Public Good, proposes a new approach to State funding of the sector in future. It recommends:

  • A new additional funding stream for the sector, Core Funding, to support quality of provision, improved pay and conditions for staff, management of parental fees and sustainability of services
  • Universal and targeted Tackling Disadvantage funding and support, building on Core Funding. The universal strand will be informed by the universal elements of the Access and Inclusion Model, and the targeted strand informed by the DEIS model in schools
  • Continued provision of the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) with enhancements
  • An expanded role for the State in managing and supporting supply, quality, accessibility, and affordability

The Expert Group’s vision is that the sector is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers, to the benefit of children, parents, practitioners and society overall. The new funding model is intended, over time, to deliver transformational change including quality improvements to services, better pay and conditions for staff, tackling disadvantage, improved affordability for parents, better management of supply to meet demand, and support for provider sustainability. The new funding model can be applied to small and large service providers of both early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), to voluntary providers, sole traders, and for-profit chains, to existing and new providers. The recommendations are designed to contribute to achieving the overarching policy goals of public investment in ELC and SAC to support child well-being and development, parental labour market participation and social inclusion.

One of the particularly innovative and exciting elements of the new funding model is the introduction of Core Funding. Core Funding is key to unlocking some of the most challenging issues in the current funding system and offers a new basis on which to build partnership between the State and providers. Core Funding will support the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order to improve pay and conditions in the sector, ensure stability and sustainability for services, improve quality of provision, and enable parental fees to be controlled so that the full affordability benefits of the ECCE programme and NCS can be realised. In return for Core Funding providers will agree to working to achieve these policy outcomes.

Core Funding, and its associated conditionality, enables a shift away from the marketisation of service delivery and towards partnership model, with responsibilities and benefits for both the State and providers. The Expert Group recognised the huge potential for change can be achieved through greater public management of the existing model of delivery.

Welcoming the report, Minister O’Gorman said:

“Today’s announcement marks a new departure for the approach of the State in the funding of early learning and childcare, and significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable and accessible services.

“I am delighted that Government has today accepted the recommendations of this important report, and I look forward to overseeing their implementation.

“The overarching theme of the report is about Partnership for the Public Good. It clearly and unequivocally recognises the public good dimension of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare – for children, for families and for society and the economy more widely. These are crucial services and the State has a strong interest in ensuring they are high quality, affordable, inclusive and sustainable. And this has to be achieved through a relationship of partnership, with providers and the State working together for the public good.”

Michael Scanlan, the Chair of the Expert Group, said:

“The State has a responsibility to support and guide this sector so that it improves child wellbeing and development, supports parental (largely maternal) employment choices, and enhances social inclusion. The Expert Group’s recommendations, combined with the required increase in State investment, can transform the sector over time and help it to achieve these important goals.

“In particular, Core Funding (a new supply-side funding mechanism) is the best way within the current system to support improved employee pay and conditions and other quality improvement measures, to give greater financial stability to service providers, to deliver greater price certainty for parents through appropriate fee management arrangements, and to underpin an enhanced public management and support role for the State.”

Informed by emerging recommendations of the Expert Group, Budget 2022 announced a transformative and ground-breaking package of measures to begin to implement the vision set out in the report. €78 million is being made available to enable this in 2022, including €69 million for a Core Funding stream, equivalent to €207 million in a full year.

First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028, committed to increasing State funding to the sector to approximately €1 billion by 2028. The introduction of Core Funding and other Budget 2022 measures are the start of a multi-annual programme of investment to substantially increase public funding for ELC and SAC and to develop a partnership with the sector for the public good.

The Minister thanked the members of the Expert Group for their extensive work over more than two years on this important project. He also noted his appreciation for all of those who participated in the stakeholder consultation, including parents, providers, and practitioners and acknowledged the extent to which these contributions had shaped the report. He also thanked the Frontier Economics, who undertook research on national and international comparisons on behalf of the group, the ESRI, Pobal and officials across a number of Departments who contributed to the project.

An information webinar on this report, and Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan for the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Sector, 2022-2028, will be made available to the sector later today, providing a detailed overview of both reports.

Press release-Advice to early learning and care and school-age childcare services regarding Storm Barra

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Due to the significant nature of Storm Barra, as forecast by Met Éireann and to give sufficient notice to early learning and care and school age childcare services and parents/guardians, the department is advising that all early learning and care and school-age childcare services covered by the Red Alert and Orange warning from Met Éireann should not open tomorrow on 7 December.

All services should keep up-to-date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins and in particular any change in the status warning for their area.

Services which close due to Storm Barra will receive Force Majeure funding.

See below for full Press Release

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/21bae-press-statement-storm-barra-department-of-children-equality-disability-integration-and-youth-advice-to-early-learning-and-care-and-school-age-childcare-services/

Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers – 1800 940341

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A reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers – 1800 940341 is available from 10am – 1pm & 1.30pm – 4pm at the weekend only.

Please also make note of the Covid support helpline times for over the festive period.

Press Release 01/12/2021 Minister O’Gorman publishes the findings of a 12-Month Review of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

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  • Review reveals the National Childcare Scheme is having a positive impact on use of early learning and childcare, workforce participation and family finances.

Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has today published the findings of a 12-Month Review of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).

The Review, which was undertaken by independent consultants, looked at the experience of families accessing the NCS during the first year of operation as well as the experience of providers offering the Scheme. An analysis of application data, including processing times and NCS subsidies awarded was also undertaken, in addition to engagement with key stakeholders.

Findings from the Review point to a number of positives for families accessing the NCS, with large proportions of parents reporting that the Scheme had positively impacted their use of early learning childcare, their engagement in work or study and their family finances.

The report found that:

  • Overall, 38% of families reported that half or more of their early learning and childcare costs were covered by the NCS.
  • More than half (56%) reported that the Scheme meant they had more money to spend (with 11% reporting they had much more money to spend).
  • Just over a quarter (26%) reported that they were using more early learning and childcare.
  • Just over a quarter (28%) reported that they were working more (with 8% reporting they would not be in work without the NCS).

The Review also found that the majority of families applied online for support under the NCS, with 66% of these applications processed within one day and 29% processed within 2 to 10 days. Moreover, most families found the application process easier than expected.

Findings from the Review also identified some emerging issues with the Scheme that need to be addressed, including low awareness of the Scheme among parents, administrative issues experienced by providers and barriers for some families accessing supports under the Scheme, including through the NCS sponsorship arrangements.

In parallel with the publication of the 12 Month Review of the National Childcare Scheme, the Minster also published a Work-Study Test Evidence Review.

The findings from both Reviews have already informed enhancements to the National Childcare Scheme announced in Budget 2022, specifically:

  • An extension to the NCS universal subsidy to all children under 15 from September 2022, benefitting up to 40,000 children.
  • An end to the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours from spring 2022, benefitting an estimated 5,000 children from low income families.

In addition to this, an action plan has been developed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability and Youth and Pobal (the NCS Administrator) that will respond to emerging issues with the Scheme.

Announcing the publication of the reports, Minister O’Gorman said:

“Government is committed to making high-quality early learning and childcare affordable and accessible to all children.

“The findings from the Review published today show the National Childcare Scheme has brought us some distance to realising this commitment– with families reporting that supports under the National Childcare Scheme has increased their use of early learning and childcare, their engagement in work or study as well as improved their family finances. The enhancements to the NCS I announced as part of Budget 2022, informed by the findings from this Review, will bring further benefits to these and other families.

“The Review did identify some emerging issues with the Scheme – among vulnerable families and among providers. Officials in my Department are taking the necessary actions to address these issues to ensure going forward this scheme works in the best interest of all children and families, and administrative issues identified by providers are reduced.”

Press Release from Minister O’Gorman to host Youth Climate Justice Fund Outcomes Event.

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Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., will host a virtual Outcomes Event at 5pm today (30 November) to celebrate the initiatives carried out by young people with support from the Youth Climate Justice Fund.

The Youth Climate Justice Fund was established in 2020 following on from the United Nations’ focus on youth engagement as part of the global response to climate change. The purpose of this Fund is to support youth-led action on climate justice at community, regional and national level.

Since the launch of the Youth Climate Justice Fund in March 2020, young people and youth organisations have innovated and collaborated to advance a range of initiatives within the areas of network-building and communications, research, awareness-raising, influencing policy-makers, the development of resources and digital tools and introducing practical climate justice changes within their communities.

The Outcomes Event will be an opportunity for young people involved in projects to share their experiences of project delivery and their perspectives on the future development of the Youth Climate Justice Fund.

Ahead of today’s event, Minister O’Gorman commented:

“The vision of my Department is for a fair, equal and inclusive society where rights are respected, and where everyone can reach their potential. I am delighted that the Youth Climate Justice Fund has given young people the opportunity to develop their own potential through working on these projects while also contributing to the shared effort to protect the rights and potential of all young people across the world as well as those of future generations.”

The Minister also warmly thanked President Michael D. Higgins who will provide the opening message at this evening’s event.

President Higgins commented:

“Throughout the world, young people and the youth sector have been at the vanguard of efforts to tackle climate change. Young people have demonstrated time and again how well informed and acutely aware they are of the threat that climate change poses, as well as it’s uneven and unequal impacts.”

In the lead up to the event, young people involved in funded projects over the past two years have participated in a series of facilitated roundtable consultations and have shared what they have learned and gained through participating in Youth Climate Justice Projects as well as how the Fund might best support young people going forward.

The views of the young people will be used to inform an internal assessment of the Fund, with recommendations to be made to Minister O’Gorman before year end 2021

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/66883-minister-ogorman-to-host-youth-climate-justice-fund-outcomes-event/

Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers – 1800 940341 for the Weekend

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A reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers – 1800 940341 is available from 10am – 1pm & 1.30pm – 4pm at the weekend only.

Please also make note of the Covid support helpline times for over the festive period.

 

START Webinar – Let’s go easy on treats- Thursday 25th November from 7.30pm

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Research carried out to inform the current phase of the START campaign highlights that while parents and guardians are interested to reduce the amount of treat foods, like crisps, chocolate, biscuits, their children are consuming, they often find it difficult.  These type of foods are the 2nd most consumed food group by children.  The Food for Life guidelines say that these type of foods are not needed and recommend that when consumed it should be ‘very little, and not every day’.

 

To help parents make a start to reducing treats we are hosting a START webinar with nutrition, health and parenting experts on Thursday 25th November at 7:30pm.

 

Please find the invitation to the webinar below.  You’ll find further information and registration details by clicking here

 

We look forward to you joining us on 25th.  Do share this invitation with colleagues and parents within your networks.

 

Kind regards

 

Sarah O’Brien

 

HSE National Lead – Healthy Eating Active Living Programme

Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers – 1800 940341

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A reminder of the Covid-19 Support Helpline for ELC and SAC Providers – 1800 940341 is available from 10am – 1pm & 1.30pm – 4pm for the weekend only.

Press release Minister O’Gorman announces second phase of Little Library Initiative providing free book bags for all childcare services

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Minister O’Gorman announces second phase of Little Library Initiative providing free book bags for all childcare services

  • Launch of the second phase of the First 5 Little Library initiative sees reading materials made available to approximately 200,000 children
  • First 5 Little Library book bags will be available to Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services from libraries throughout the country to support children’s early language and literacy development.

Click into the link below to bring you direct to the Press Release:

Gov.ie Press Release – Little Library