Contracts Meeting

As members are aware, Pobal released the various Grant Agreements 2017-2018 for renewal in late May 2017. There are a number of changes in the Agreements (as known as Contracts) from previous years. Of note, for example, are the new provisions in the ECCE Agreement to reflect AIM and the new provisions in the CCS Plus Programme Agreement for the payment of the universal subsidy under Affordable Childcare in September 2017. On Wednesday 14th June, ECI convened the first meeting of our Policy and Implementation Panel sub-group to examine the Agreements, discuss their implications and identify issues for follow-up with Pobal and DCYA.

The ECI Panel sub-group comprises: Valerie Gaynor, Creative Kids, Walkinstown, Dublin 12; Una Hill, Bonnybrook Early Education Centre, Coolock, Dublin 17; Susan Mitchell, Realtoga, Sandymount, Dublin 4; Lelia Murphy, Crumlin Childcare, Dublin 12; Emma Reilly, Co-operative Housing Ireland; and Avril Stanley, Sli Burca Childcare, Knocknacarra, Galway. ECI was represented by Frances Byrne, Director of Policy and Advocacy; Amy McArdle, Policy Officer and Helen Carey, Information Officer in Support Point*.

The meeting was very useful with participants raising their concerns about various aspects of the Agreements, including:

• Re ECCE Agreement, para 5.6, firstly the group has a difficulty with the word “refuse” in this context. In no circumstances should a services refuse children with a disability. However, owing to health and safety or other concerns, services may have to wait for the necessary and appropriate supports under AIM in order to facilitate the child. The group strongly feels that ECCE capitation should continue to be paid while an AIM assessment is undertaken. It is essential that the assessments conclude as quickly as possible to limit the disruption to children and their absence from services.  As demonstrated in ECI’s recent report Doing the Sums: The Real Cost of Providing Childcare, a majority of services are breaking even at best and simply cannot afford to hold a place for a child without payment;
• Re ECCE Agreement, Appendix 2, the group believes the €2 additional capitation for a service with a LINC programme and Inclusion Co-ordinator is totally inadequate and should instead be on-par with the higher ECCE capitation. The group is also very frustrated by the requirement that providers participate in the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter and Guidelines training in the absence of funding (CPD) to support their attendance;
• Re all Grant Agreements 2017-2018, the requirement for providers to police absences is a major concern to the group;
• Re all Grant Agreements 2017-2018, the group is anxious to receive the often cited ‘Rules for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) Childcare Funding Programmes’, before entering into contract;
• Re CCS Plus Programme Agreement, paras 7.1-7.4, the group is also concerned that they are being asked to sign an Agreement that references a document, the Financial Procedures, Reporting and Requirements and Guidelines Document, which has yet to be published by DCYA;
• Re CCS Plus Programme Agreement, the group agrees that the universal subsidy is low versus the administrative burden involved. We heard an example of a service charging parents €75 per week for a non-ECCE sessional place. The service had previously given a €5 discount to parents for children attending 5 sessions each week. The universal subsidy for a sessional service is €7 per week.  Therefore, with the discount (€5) now absorbed into the subsidy (€7), the actual reduction for parents is only €2 per week, which is incredibly low for the level of ongoing administration required by the service to participate in the scheme.

ECI is pursuing all of the above issues with Pobal and DCYA and will keep members advised of their responses. The ECI Panel sub-group will continue to feed in concerns and observations about the Agreements as they develop. We welcome any additional concerns other members would like to raise with us about the contracts. Please email our Policy Officer, Amy McArdle amcardle@earlychildhoodireland.ie

*Support Point is Early Childhood Ireland’s dedicated phone line and email for member queries. We answer your queries on HR, Regulations, Compliance, Policies and Procedures and more.Phone 01 4040681 or email supportpoint@earlychildhoodireland.ie.