Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1427. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of ELC and SAC services in County Carlow that applied and were not granted funding under the sustainability grant. [38384/23]
View answerMy Department oversees a case management process, through which local City and County Childcare Committee (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to all Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Care (SAC) services experiencing difficulties, and through which Sustainability Funding may be granted should the need arise.
Under the direction of my Department, Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering on-the-ground case management assistance. This can include help for services with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
In some instances, financial supports through Sustainability Funding may be appropriate, in tandem with this case management process. Pobal undertake a detailed financial review of any service wishing to apply for sustainability funding in order to assess their financial eligibility and need for funding. At the conclusion of this process, Pobal decide on the basis of the funding criteria and the information gathered whether or not to recommend sustainability funding. These recommendations come to my Department for decision.
In 2022, I introduced a new strand of Sustainability Funding to ensure that Partner Services, whether community or private, would remain sustainable with the introduction of the new funding model, which includes public management requirements, like the fee freeze.
The number of service providers in County Carlow that engaged in case management and were considered for sustainability funding since September 2022 but were not granted funding was nil.
Note that 2022 Fire Safety Sustainability Grant details are excluded as it was targeted/application based capital funding.
If any service has viability concerns, I would encourage them to reach out to their local CCC to start availing of supports through the aforementioned case management process.
(Information supplied from Pobal - September 2022 to 1 September 2023).
