Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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653. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the one-off measure of €37 million is contained within the additional Covid-19 allocation of €67 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51074/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In Budget 2022 I have secured an additional €78m in early learning and care and school age childcare funding, bringing the total investment in the sector to €716m next year.

The €716 million investment in ELC and SACincludes €69 million for a new Core Funding stream for providers in 2022.This will allow my Department to bring forward a substantial and comprehensive package of developments to achieve significant progress on its policy priorities of affordable, high quality, inclusive and sustainable ELC and SAC.

In addition, a once-off  Transition Fund of €37m has been made available for providers in the sector between the end of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and the introduction of the new Core Funding stream, May to August 2022.  This fund will provide the necessary resources to support ELC and SAC services to ensure there continues to be no increases in parent’s fees for ELC and SAC in the period leading up to the introduction of the new funding stream.

This once-off measure is in addition to the €69 million allocated in respect of the new Core Funding stream which will be available from September 2022.